A First Randomized Eight-Week Multidisciplinary Telerehabilitation Study for the Post-COVID-19 Condition: Improvements in Health- and Pain-Related Parameters.

Background/

Objectives

This study investigates the effects of multidisciplinary telerehabilitation for the post-COVID-19 condition.

Methods

Recruitment was announced during 2021/22 through the COVID patient organisation in Sweden. The key inclusion criteria were persistent symptoms and functional impairments longer than 12 weeks after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, a stable health condition, and satisfactory skills to use the Internet. Participants were randomised into a rehabilitation group or a waiting list. Telerehabilitation was performed by a multidisciplinary team. Measured outcomes included health- and pain-related parameters and pain-related disability after eight weeks and when followed up after six months.

Results

In total, 164 participants registered for the study. Of them, 67 participated in an eight-week group telerehabilitation programme (mean age 43, 78% women) and 42 stayed on a waiting list (mean age 47, 88% women) after eight weeks. Sixty participants from the rehabilitation group and 21 from the waiting list completed the data at the six-month follow-up. The results show greater improvements in both health- and pain-related parameters within the telerehabilitation group after eight weeks and six months than within the waiting list group (Cohen's d effect size varied between moderate and large). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups, except participants being at a lower risk of anxiety measured based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale after eight weeks of telerehabilitation compared to those on the waiting list.

Conclusions

The results indicate that multidisciplinary group telerehabilitation is beneficial for improving health- and pain-related parameters in people suffering from the post-COVID-19 condition and should be further developed and adapted for similar conditions, such as chronic pain, fatigue, etc.